Act fast: Wide open Singapore Airlines business class award space to Europe and Asia

Singapore Airlines has opened the award floodgates on its coveted business class product. At the time of writing, there’s widespread business class award space between July and October 2023. This news was first reported by View from the Wing.

The airline operates twice daily departures from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), and most days have at least two seats at the saver price of 107,000 miles.

Singapore Airlines also offers nonstop flights to its Singapore hub from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). While availability is more limited on flights from these airports, our tests showed scattered saver award space (fewer miles) and more widespread advantage award space (more miles).

Additionally, Europe-bound travelers can take advantage of the airline’s fifth freedom service with widespread business class availability from JFK to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Manchester Airport (MAN).

Here’s what you need to know about this deal.

The deal

SINGAPORE AIRLINES/GETTY IMAGES

Airlines: Singapore Airlines.
Routes: SFO, LAX, JFK, SEA, EWR to/from SIN and JFK-FRA and IAH-MAN.
Cost: From 81,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles plus $5.60 taxes and fees one-way in business class.
Dates: July through October 2023.
Pay taxes/fees with: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar on travel) for travel protections on the award flight.

Sample itineraries

Here’s a look at the award space. These flights have at least two available seats.

San Francisco to Singapore in July, August, September and October

JFK to Singapore in July, August and September

LAX to Singapore in July, August, September and October

JFK to Frankfurt in July, August, September and October

Houston to Manchester in July, August, September and October

Related: 7 takeaways from my 1st Singapore Airlines business-class experience

Earning the miles to book this award

Unfortunately, even though Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, it doesn’t release its long-haul business class award space to its Star Alliance partners. That means you won’t be able to use point currencies like United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan to book these flights.

Outside of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, the only other points currency that you may be able to use to book these flights is Alaska Mileage Plan. Generally, you’ll only find award space on Alaska on the flights Singapore Airlines has designated as saver awards on its own program.

On a given flight from SFO to SIN with KrisFlyer saver award space, you can choose to use 107,000 Singapore Airlines miles or 100,000 Alaska miles

Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to earn Singapore miles. You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Chase Ultimate Rewards to Singapore at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

On the other hand, Alaska miles, known to be some of the hardest to earn, aren’t transferable from any credit card programs. For this reason, we suggest using Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer to make your booking unless you have a surplus of Alaska miles you’re eager to redeem.

Make sure to pay award taxes and fees with a card that earns bonus points on airfare and offers travel protections. Some cards that fit the bill include The Platinum Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Related: It doesn’t get much better than this: Singapore Airlines’ A380 in business class from Frankfurt to New York

Bottom line

While Singapore Airlines has an aging business class hard product that will be turning 10 years old next year, the soft product (i.e., service, amenities and food) is still one of the best in the sky.

Plus, passengers who book Singapore Airlines business class flights from the U.S. can access United’s award-winning Polaris lounges. If you book a flight out of SFO, the Polaris lounge is the same terminal as Singapore Airlines’ departures. In Los Angeles and Newark, the Polaris lounges are several terminals away from Singapore Airlines’ gates.